Ice-machine compressor.



H. D. POWNALL.

ICE MACHINE COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I9. 1913.

1 1 53 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H.- D. POWNALL.

ICE MACHINE COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION men MAY 19. 19:3.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENRY D. PONALL. OF CANTON, OHIO.

v ICE-MACHINE COMPRESSOR.

1,1Sth536.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1%16.

Application filed May 19, 1913. Serial No. 768,628.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, HENRY D. POWNALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toe-Machine Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ice machine compressors.

One of its objects is to provide an improved double acting compressor in which the gas intake is near the center of the cylinder between two plungers and the gas is admitted through valves in the plungers to the ends of the cylinders, and compressed and discharged through downwardly directed exit ports.

Another object is to provide improved means to control the temperature of the compressor.

Another object is to provide an improved plunger and plunger valve.

Another object is to provide improved means to mount and hold the plunger valve in position.

My invention also comprises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through my improved compressor. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section through one of the plungers and its valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is an outside plan view of one of the plungers with the valve mechanism attached. Fig. i is an inside plan view of one of the plungers. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the plunger valves detached. Fig. 6 is a perspective .view of one of the plunger valve supporting and locking rings. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a section on line as m of Fig. 1 showing one of the cylinder exit ports.

The invention herein disclosed relates particularly to the compressor valve mechanism, other features of the compressor structure being the subject-matter of my co-pending application. Serial No. 769,073, filed May 21., 1913.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred. embodiments of my invention, in which A represents the compressor cylinder supported upon a standard a, and B and B the cylinder heads.

C represents the piston rod and D, D plungers rigidly connected to the piston rod. Each of the plungers comprises a hub 2 and a mug or shell 3 united by radial ribs 4.- so as to provide an annular gas port 50f relatively large area close to the periphery of the plunger with passages thereto between the ribs 4. In the face of the ring 3 are provided a series of oil grooves 6 and grooves 7 to receive metal packing rings 8.

The plunger valve mechanism of each plunger in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises an annular valve E preferably having a beveled face 9 and a groove 10 opposite the port 5 with annular faces 11 and 12 on opposite sides of said groove to seat upon opposite sides of the port 5 upon the end or head of the plunger. The valve is supported in position laterally and locked in position with a limited valve movement by means of an annular member F, which is threaded to the projecting end 14: of the plunger. A tapered stud or bolt 15 preferably provided with a castellated nut 16 and cotter pin 17 serves to lock the ring F in position and prevents it from becoming loosened while in operation. 1f desired, the end of the bolt 15 may be headed or riveted down upon the nut 16. The face 18 of the ring F is dressed to a segment of a sphere or ball and the adjacent face of the valveE is at substantially right angles to its faces seating over the port 5, and is fitted closely to the greatest diameter of the face 18 but so as to move freely thereon and to enable the valve to lift from its seat at all points at once, or to lift first at one point and thereby assume an angular position with reference to its seat upon the plunger. An annular projection 19 of the ring 1F serves to limit the movement of the valves and to thus lock the valve in position.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the annular member F instead of being threaded to the end of the plunger is secured thereto by means of a series of countersunk screws f which in turn are locked against working loose by small screws f and if desired as an additional precaution the metal of the ring 1F may be peened over the top or end of the holes in which the screws f are seated and also forced at 9 into the ends of the slots in the heads of screws f.

By providing the port 5 close to the periphery of the plunger, a port of ample cross sectional area may be readily provided, while the valve may be made of minimum weight and of relatively small lift to secure a passage of ample size for the volume of gas required to pass. By prov ding the valve E and projection 19 with beveled faces and a corresponding beveled face 20 on the inner face of the cylinder head, the plunger may be adjusted to. fit the cylinder head at the end of the stroke with practically no clearance. The valve E by reason of its light weight large area and limited movement 1s operated automatically without the use of a spring. Exit valves H are provided at opposite ends of the cylinder and are housed in downwardly projecting valve chambers 21, preferably formed integral with the cylinder, and closed by means of caps 22. The exit valves comprise detachable valve seats 24 held in position by means of a cross bar 25 seated on ledges 26 and provided with a set screw 27 and lock nut 28 to hold a thrust plate 29 against the lower end of the valve cage and seat 24. The plate 29 has a tubular guide 30 to engage a tubular projection 31 projecting downwardly from the valve H. A spring 32 seated in the tubular members 30 and 31 holds the valve H to its seat. The gas escapes from the valve chambers 21 by means of side ports 33. The exit valve ports being downwardly directed enable any liquid to readily drain from the cylinders. Also said ports are connected by channels it through the beveled inner edges of the cylinder heads which enables the last portion of gas or liquid to be forced fromthe cylinder as the plunger comes close to the cylinder head.

Gas is admitted to the cylinder through the annular chamber 34 and a series of diagonal ports 35 leading from the lower por tion thereof to the interior of the cylinder.

As the cool gas flows to the central portion of the compressor through the annular passage 34 and ports 35 there is a tendency for the gas to give up negative heat at this point thereby causing a loss of eificiency which is practically prevented by cork or other insulation 37 inclosing this passage 34 and the central portion of the cylinder, ex-

- cept that portion beneath, and within the base a, which is protected or insulated by a dead air chamber 38. At the outer ends of the cylinders, where compression of the gas occurs, there is a tendency to heat the compressor walls and thereby cause a loss of efficiency. This heating effect is greatest at the cylinder heads and progressively de creases toward the center of the cylinder. In. order to reduce to a minimum loss of efficiency due to the heat of compression imparted to the compressor, such heat is removedas far as possible and as rapidly as possible by means of water circulated through water jackets 39 surrounding the ends of the cylinders and water jackets 40 in the cylinder heads. In order to provide for various changes such as temperature of the condensing water, or the external temperature, and to provide for eflicient cooling and economical use of condensing water I provide separate water supply pipes 41 controlled by valves 42 and leading to the lower portions of the respective water ackets 39 and also separate water supply pipes 43 leading to the lower portions of the jackets 40 and controlled by independent valves 44. Exit or vaste pipes 45 at each end of the cylinder receive the joint overflow or waste water from the respective jackets 39 and 40. This arrangement provides for an independent c011- trol of the volume of water supplied to each jacket, and provides for the cool water entering at the lower portion of the jacket and rising toward the exit port as it becomes heated and for the discharge of the warmer portion of the water from the respective jackets. Thus increased quantities of condensing water may be supplied in warm weather as compared with cool, weather, and relatively greater quantities of water may be circulated through the jackets in the heads than through the cylinder jackets as re quired.

The thickness of the valves E in cross-section is substantially uniform at all points by reason of the beveled face 9 and annular. groove 10 which serves to prevent the valve from heating unevenly or departing from its true or original shape when subjected to heat or to changes of temperature due to the operation of the compressor. Also the faces of the valve and its seat can be readily ground and kept true.

The mechanism herein illustrated is capable of considerable modification without departing from the principle of my inven tion.

Having described my invention. what I claim is:

1. In a gas compressor a cylinder at cupped cylinder head having a plane face surrounded by an annular inclined face, :1 plunger comprising a hub and an annular ring united by'ribs with an intermediate aunular gas port near the periphery of the plunger, an annular valve having an inclined outer'face to register with the inclined :face of said cylinder head, said valve seating upon opposite'sides of said annular port to close the same, and an annular me1uber detachably connected to said plunger andserving to guide said valve to and from its seat, to'limit the movement of the valve from its seat,'and to register with the central cup shaped face of the cylinder head at the end of the plunger movement.

2. In a gas compressor a cylinder, :1 cupped cylinder head having a plane face nieaeac surrounded by an annular inclined face, a reciprocating plunger comprising a hub, an annular shell provided with packing rings to seat against the cylinder walls, an intermediate annular gas port spanned by ribs to connect said annular shell to said hub, an annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of said port to close the same, an annular detachable member to guide the valve to its seat and to limit its movement from its seat, and a downwardly directed valve controlled gas exit port leading from said cylinder near the cylinder head, said plunger, detachable member and plunger valve presenting a face the counterpart of the inner face of the cylinder head to avoid clearance space when the plunger is at the limit of its stroke.

3. In a gas compressor, a cylinder having an exit port at its closed end, a plunger comprising a hub and an annular shellprovided with a packing ring to engage the cylinder walls with an intermediate annular gas port spanned by ribs to unite said hub and annular shell, an annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of said port to close thesame, and a detachably connected annular member to limit the movement ofthe valve from its seat, the valve engaging face of said detachable member being of a contour to enable said valve to assume an annular position in any direction with reference to its seat.

4. In a gas compressor a cylinder having a downwardly directed exit port near the cylinder head, a cylinder head beveled near its periphery, a plunger comprising a hub and an annular shell provided with a packing ring to engage the cylinder walls, with an intermediate annular gas port spanned by ribs to unite said hub and annular shell, an annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of said port to close the same, and an annular member to guide the valve to its seat and to limit the movement of the valve from its seat, said member being detachably connected to the plunger, and said valve having an inclined face to register with the beveled face of the cylinder head.

5. In a gas compressor, a cylinder, .a cupped cylinder head having an annular in clined face, a plunger comprising a hub and an annular shell provided with a packing ring to engage the cylinder walls with an intermediate annular gas port spanned by ribs to unite said hub and annular shell, an

- annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of port to close the same, and having an lnclmed outer face to register with the inclined face of said cylinder head, and an an nular member having aseat of spherical outllne to guide the valve to and from its seat and means to limit the movement of the valve from its seat, said annular member being detachably connected to the plunger.

6. In a gas compressor a cylinder, a cupped cylinder head having a plane face surrounded by an annular inclined face, a plunger comprising a hub and an annular shell provided with a packing ring to engage the cylinder wall, an intermediate annular gas port spanned by ribs to unite said hub and annular shell, an annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of said port to close the same and provided with an outer inclined face to register with the inclined face of the cylinder head and with an annular groove in the valve face opposite said port, an annular member to guide the valve to its seat and to limit the movement of the valve from its seat, said member being detachably connected to the plunger and having an inclined face to register with the inclined face of said cylinder head 7. lln a gas compressor a cylinder, a cupped cylinder head having a plane face surrounded by an annular inclined face opposite the plunger valve, a plunger comprising a hub, an annular shell provided with a packing ring to engage the cylinder walls, with an annular gasport intermediate of said hub and shell and close to the periphery of said plunger, an annular valve to seat upon opposite sides of said port to close the same and having an inclined outer face to register with the inclined face of the cylinder head, and an annular member to guide the valve to its seat and to limit the movement of the valve from its seat, said member being detachably connected to the plunger and having an inclined face to register with the inclined face of the cylinder head.

In testimony whereof l have al'lixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY D. PUWNALL.

Witnesses:

C. W. MILES, W. 'lrronn'ron Boenn'r. 

